Method of repairing damaged spots in fabrics



Jan 9, 19 3 M. L. RQACH 2,308,717

METHOD OF REPAIRING DAMAGED SPOTS IN FABRICS Filed Nbv. 4, 1940 5IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIII III II I IIII I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIII59 f? 7 w {M fi ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1943 METHOD OF REPAIRINGDAMAGED SPOTS IN FABRICS Mary Louise Roach, Green Township, HamiltonCounty, Ohio Application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,255

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of mendingf'abric material, and inparticular, woven fabrics, utilizing for the damaged portion a patch ofthe same material as that of the article being mended.

An object of the invention is to provide a method for mending thedamaged portion of a woven fabric in a simple and expeditious manner toproduce an invisible and secure mend comparable to an artisan performedinterweaving or darning method of patching, generally too costly for therepair of garments or most grades of materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide an invisible and securepatch mending of a damaged portion of woven fabric by utilizing arectangular section of cloth of the same material as that being mended,and applying the patch section without the use of an adhesive or othertype of backing layer to avoid stiffening the mended area, and to havethe warp and woof threads of the patch threaded through and extended tothe reverse side of the fabric about the damaged portion.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be morefully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of the fabric with a damagedsection cut out on lines parallel with the warp and Woof threads,

and -a line of stitching applied marginally about" the opening, bindingthe threads prior to applying the patch thereover.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the patch, preferably of the same material asthe fabric.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the face side of a portion of the fabric withthe patch in place preparatory to securing it to the fabric.

Figure 4 is a sectional View showing the free threads to the patch drawnthrough the fabric.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the marginal edge of theopening frayed, with the frayed edges of the patch and fabric securedtogether by a line of stitching.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the finished patch withthe frayed edges thereof .by means of concealed cross stitching appliedmarginally about the adjoining edges of the patch and fabric.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, showing a further modificationin the method of securing the patch.

In practicing the invention, the fabric I about the damaged spot orportion to be mended is cut out, as shown in Figure 1, \to'provide arectangular opening or cut out area 2, the lines of the cut or edgesforming the opening relatively extending parallel with either the warpor woof threads of the-fabric to permit the lthreads lying parallel withan edge to be ultimately frayed out to have the transverse threadsextend out loosely.

A line of preferably small length stitching 3 is extended marginallyoutward about the rectangular opening to completely surround the same.The stitching binds the warp and Woof threads of the fabric to preventundue fray or ravel of the threads, and to provide a guide and matchingline for the outer exposed area of a patch 4, along which the looselyprotruding warp and woof threads for the relative edges of the patch arethreaded or drawn through the fabric to underlie the same.

The patch 4 is of rectangular outline and slightly larger in dimensionfor area than the rectangular opening 2, and of the same material asthat of the fabric. As shown in Figure 2, the patch provides a bodyportion of an area approximately corresponding to the space within theboundary of the rectangular line of stitching 3 in the main fabric. Therectangular body of the patch is placed with its warp and woof threadsrelatively parallel or in registry with the threads of the main fabricsurrounding the rectangular line of stitching, so than an absolutematching can be effected at the patching or meeting lines of the parts.

The margins of the patch are frayed so that the patch constitutes acentral body portion surrounded by free threads 5 constituting the looseextensions of the warp and woof threads of the patch section, leaving abody area of approximate dimension as represented by the area within therectangular line of weave thread reinforcing stitching 3, preliminarilyexecuted about the cut opening in the fabric being mended.

The patch in this instance being shown as square and the loose and freefibers or threads being constituted by omitting on opposite sides of thebody a number of the warp threads, and similarly omitting on the othersides of the body the woof threads, the loose threads or strandsconstitute the connecting or fastening means of the patch. The patch isplaced over the outer side, of the fabric, as shown in Figure 3, withits body edge abounded by the rectangular line of stitching, and withthe pattern of the parts in matching assembly. The body of the patch istemporarily tacked or b asted to the margins of the fabric about theopening to hold the same in place during the remaining operations.

The loose free threads present a soft but efficient means for securingthe patch to the fabric. The free threads entirely surround the bodyportion of the patch; the Warp threads being at directly opposite edgesof the patch, and the woof threads at right angles thereto at the otheropposite edges of the patch. "The threa'dsare' of .-a length mostsuitable to draw through the fabric and slightly overlap theundersidethereof. .The loose threads are individuallydrawn through'thefabric from the face side thereof, and directly along and about therectangiilarl line of stitching 3 to extend from the underside of the.fabric, as shown in Figure 4. This is readily accomplished, manually bymeans ofa hooked needle enga ed through the fabric from the underside tocatch a thread and draw the same through the fabric, or'power drivenmeans having a special type of reciprocating needle acting from the faceof the fabric for pushing the threads through the fabric.

.The means employed for drawing the threads are bound togetherxbya lineof stitching 6, shown in Figure 5, extending as closeas' possible torthef base of the margins, which combines the same as a hem at the undersideof the fabric and'patch.

The threads of thelpatch being. drawn through the fabric at the outersideof the. rectangular line of stitching extends the same througha firm.portion of the fabric, which is reinforced by the line of stitching 3.After the hem has been stitched, a portion of the margin of the fabric.is frayed similarly to the patch to remove from oppositesides aportionor number of the warp threads outwardly from. the line of:stitching,.and

similarly remove from the other opposite sides the woof threads.

The loose free threads of both patch and fabric present a soft, smoothsurface upon their reverse side of the mended portion to avoid effectingany stiffening to the .mended portion. The frayed or fringed margins 5of-the patch, .after the threads thereof have been 'drawn' through thefabric about the-line of stitching and after stitching to the margin ofthefabric within the line of initial stitching are-pressed down to beparallel with the fabric. The mend from the-face side of the fabricisinvisible, and the patch is strongly secured to the fabric and-cannotbe loosened or opened up under any strain that-the fabric ordinarily maybe subjeoted'toor capable of withstanding. The 'method-can 'be veryexpeditiously practicedby a dry cleaning establishment and at anexceedingly low cost.

-As shown in Figures 8 and 9, as a modification of. the method, thepatch may besecure'diby means of a line of concealed cross stitching"l'oapplied marginally aboutsthe adjoining edges ofthe patch and fabric.The cross stitching is of zigzagl form, embedded within the body of thefabrioforconcealment, and servesto'draw the. edges .x'ofuthe :patch intoclosezconta'ct with the adjoining edges .of the fabric. .after .the-.free threads" 5 of ..the :patchlhave: been The cross. stitching 1..is; applied drawn through the fabric, and may be used either alone, asshown in Figure 8, or in conjunction with the binding stitch 6, as shownin Figure 9. The cross stitching is of fine thread of a high quality,for example, silk giving maximum strength without adding noticeable bulkto the edges of the patch.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of mending damaged spots in fabrics, consisting in cuttingout a damaged area ..along lines parallel to the warp and woof threadsof the fabric, extending a line of stitching mar- ;ginally around theedges of the opening produced by the cut-out area, applying a patch ofthe same material of the fabric having a central body portion of ashape'conforming to the area surrounded by said line of stitching in thefabric, the

matchlhaying its ..body portion surrounded by free threads constitutingloose extensions of the warp and woof threads thereof, drawing the freethreads'of the patch'through the fabric along said line ofstitchinganclzat a side outermost from .the opening, binding together said loosefibersand margin of the fabric bya line of stitching at the base of thejoined parts, removing a portion of the warp and woof threads of saidmargin, and folding the same with the patch threads down in parallelismwith the plane of the fabric.

2. .Themethod of mending damaged spots in fabrics, consisting in cuttingout a damaged area along lines parallel to the warp and Woof threads ofthe fabric, applying a patch of the same material of the fabric having acentral body portion of a shape conforming to marginally overlap the cutout areas. in the fabric, the patch having its body. portion surroundedby free threads constituting loose extensions of the warp and woofthreads thereof, .drawing the free threads of the patch through thefabric, sewing together said loose fibersand margin of the fabric at thebase of the joined parts, removing a portion of the warp and woofthreads of said margin corresponding with the patch, and folding thesame with the patch threadsdown in parallelism with theplane of thefabric.

3. The .method of mending damaged spots in fabrics, consisting incutting out a damaged area along lines parallel to the warp and woofthreads .of the fabric, applyingapatch of the same material of thefabric having a body portion marginally overlapping the fabric about thecut out area, the patch having its body portion surrounded by freethreads constituting loose extensions. of the warpand woof. threadsthereof,

drawing the .free threads 'ofthe patch through the .fabric, .sewing.togetherlsaid loose fibers and .margin ofithe fabric .which the body ofthepatch overlies,r.ax1chfolding the samectoiform a hem.

.4; .Thermethod.ofrmendingodamaged spots in -fabrics,:consisting incuttmgout a damaged area ialongllines parallel tothe warprandwoofthreads ofsthefa-bric, applying; a patch of thersamematerial:ofathefabric :of larger area .than the opening over theoutersideiofithe fabric to cover the opening, thefpatch having itslbody. portion surrouridedxby. free threadsmonstitutingloose extensionsof the warp and woof threadsthereof and drawing the free .threadsvof the1 patch through the fabric andtsecuringlthe same-to themargin ofthexfabricrwhichqthe body-portion of 13118.. patch poverlies,wrem'ovingw a :portion of .the warp and zswoof'; threads .tof :saidmargin, and folding the v:same with .the patch threads ztoform a1hem.

5. The method of mendingflamagemspots'in fabrics, consisting in cuttingout a damaged area along lines parallel to the warp and woof threads ofthe fabric, applying a patch of the same material of the fabric having abody portion marginally overlapping the fabric about the cut out area,the patch having its body portion surrounded by free threadsconstituting loose extensions of the warp and woof threads thereof,drawing the free threads of the patch through the fabric, and bindingtogether the adjoining edges of the patch and fabric by a line of crossstitching marginally about the adjoining parts and concealed within thebody of the patch and fabric.

6. The method of mending damaged spots in fabrics, consisting in cuttingout a damaged area along lines parallel to the warp and woof threads ofthe fabric, extending a line of stitching marginally around the edges ofthe opening produced by the cut out area, applying a patch of the samematerial of the fabric having a central body portion of a shapeconforming tothe area surrounded by said line of stitching in thefabric, the patch having its body portion surrounded by free threadsconstituting loose extensions of the warp and woof threads thereof,drawing the free threads of the patch through the fabric along said lineof stitching and at a side outermost from the opening, and bindingtogether the adjoining edges of the patch and fabric by a line of crossstitching marginally about the adjoining parts.

'7. The method of mending damaged spots infabrics, consisting in cuttingout a damaged area along lines parallel to the warp and woof threads ofthe fabric, applying a atch of the same material of the fabric having acentral body portion of a shape conforming to marginally overlap the cutout area in the fabric, the patch having its body portion surrounded byfree threads constituting loose extensions of the warp and woof threadsthereof, drawing the free threads of the patch through the fabric,binding together the adjoining edges of the patch and fabric by a lineof cross stitching marginally about the adjoining parts and concealedwithin the body of the patch and fabric, and sewing together the freethreads of the patch and margin of the fabric to form a hem.

8. The method of mending damaged spots in fabrics, consisting in cuttingout a damaged area along lines parallel to the warp and woof threads ofthe fabric, extending a line of stitching marginally around the edges ofthe opening produced by the cut out area, applying a patch of the samematerial of fabric having a central body portion of a shape conformingto the area surrounded by said line of stitching in the fabric, thepatch having a fringed margin produced for each edge by removing thethreads extending longitudinally of the edge, drawing the free threadsof the fringe of the patch through the fabric along said line ofstitching at a side outermost of the opening, and securing said fringedmargins to the relative adjoining margins of the fabric about the cutout by stitching the same together at the base of the joined parts.

MARY LOUISE ROACH.

